Mechanism for releasably attaching objects to a kite string

ABSTRACT

A releasably locking mechanism for attaching objects to a kite string to be carried aloft by a kite and released while the kite is airborne. The mechanism includes object-receiving means with an object-holding position and an object-releasing position and actuating means, controllable from the ground, for reorienting the object-receiving means to its object-releasing position while the kite is in flight.

United States Patent Inventor Richard R. Bury 1804 Hollywood Ave., Salt Lake City, 84108 Appl. No. 793,487

Filed Jan. 23, 1969 Patented June 8, 1971 MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACI-IING OBJECTS TO A KITE STRING 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl B64c 31/06 Field of Search..... 244/155, 153, 154

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,735,309 11/1929 Albrechtv 244/155 2,059,634 11/1936 Fisher, Jr..... 244/155 2,480,948 9/1949 Moon 294/155 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Sauberer Attorney-David V. Trask ABSTRACT: A releasably locking mechanism for attaching objects to a kite string to be carried aloft by a kite and released while the kite is airborne. The mechanism includes objectreceiving means with an object-holding position and an 0bject-releasing position and actuating means, controllable from the ground, for reorienting the object-receiving means to its object-releasing position while the kite is in flight.

PATENTEDJUN awn 3583562 SHEET 1 BF 2 Y B I ll 1 /4-/0 INVENTOR.

R/CHARD R. BUR) ATTORNEY PATENIED JUN 8 l97| SHEET 2 0F 2 ATTORNEY MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACIIING OBJECTS TO A KITE STRING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field This invention relates to kites and provides a simple mechanism for releasably attaching objects to a kite string to be dropped at will while the kite is in flight.

2. State of the Art Kites have been in popular use for centuries. It is well known that objects may be attached to kites or kite strings to be carried aloft. Heretofore, however, there has not been available a simple, practical mechanism for releasably attaching an object to a kite string to be carried aloft and released at will to drop to the ground while the kite remains in flight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a simple, releasably locking mechanism adapted to attach an object to a kite string such that it may be released at will while the kite is in flight by a tug or jerk on the string. The locking mechanism of this invention includes object-receiving means having an objectholding (closed) position and an object-releasing (open) position, When oriented in its closed or object-holding position, the object-receiving means resists reorientation (actuation) to its object-releasing position. The extent or magnitude of this resistance to actuation may be permanently built into the mechanism when it is manufactured, but in preferred embodiments, it is adjustable.

Operably associated with the object-receiving means is actuating means comprising a first part for attachment to a length of string extending from attachment to a kite and a second part for attachment to a length of string intended to be held in the hand of an individual flying the kite. According to some embodiments of the invention, the claimed mechanism serves as a connecting link for two separate segments of a kite string. According to other embodiments of the invention, the two parts of the actuating means are attached at spaced locations to segments of a single, continuous string. In any event, when the object-receiving means is actuated; i.e., reoriented to its open position to release an object in flight, there remains a continuous line from the ground to the kite, and the complete releasably locking mechanism of this invention remains attached to the line so that it may be retrieved with the kite.

The actuating means of this invention may take a variety of forms, but is in all events controllable from the ground by tugging or jerking on the kite string. The resistance to actuation of the actuating means must thus be sufficient to resist the actuating forces that are developed as a result of normal kiteflying activity, but it must be capable of being overcome as the result of a single or plurality of deliberate tugs or jerks on the kite string. It is possible to develop actuating forces; i.e., forces tending to reorient the object-receiving means to its object-releasing position, much in excess of those developed by normal kite-flying procedures by violently or suddenly jerking the kite string directly away from the kite. Thus, considerable tolerance is permissible in establishing the resistance to actuation of the object-receiving means. Some forms of the actuating means rely upon a succession of actuating jerks to trigger the object-receiving means to its object-releasing position.

In use, the object that it is desired to send aloft with the kite is positioned for carrying by the object-receiving means of the claimed mechanism. Usually, the object to be carried is provided with a bail, ring, or similar device adapted to be gripped or held by the object-receiving means in its closed position. With the object locked into position on the kite string, the kite is flown in conventional manner. By properly manipulating the kite, the object being carried may be positioned over a desired position on the earths surface. It is then released to drop to the earth by jerking on the kite string as explained previously herein.

The mechanisms of this invention have a variety of entertaining and practical uses. Simple, inexpensive embodiments of the invention may be used for sending toy soldiers or the like aloft for parachuting to the ground. Similar embodiments may be used for carrying fishing lures to distances from shore greatly in excess of those which are attainable by conventional bait-casting techniques. More carefully crafted models may be produced for applications; e.g., military, demanding greater precision or reliability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which illustrate what is presently regarded as the best mode for carrying out the invention,

FIG. 1 a pictorial view illustrating one embodiment of the invention and its manner of'use;

FIG. 2 an enlargement, in perspective, of the same embodiment in its open or object-releasing position;

FIG. 3 a perspective view from a different angle of the same embodiment in its closed or object-holding position;

FIG. 4 a view in cross section taken from the standpoint of line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a perspective view of another form of the invention in its object-holding position, its object-releasing position being illustrated in phantom;

FIG. 6 a perspective view of another form of the invention;

FIG. 7 a view in elevation taken from the standpoint of line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9, perspective views of other forms of the invention in their object-holding positions; and

FIG. 10, a view, partially in section and partially in perspective, ofstill another form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 through 4, includes two elements 11 and 12,-held together at corresponding ends, and 12a respectively, by a rivet 13. One element 11 carries a member 14 at its free end 11b, which member includes two parallel legs 14-1 and 14-2. Each leg is notched on the edge furthest removed from the rivet connection 13 and extends normal to the inside surface 11c of element 11 so that the notches 14-1a and 14-2a are in approximate alignment with each other, parallel to the leading edge of the other element 12. Element 12 carries a member 15 at its unattached end 12b, which member is shaped and adapted to enter the notches 14-10 and 14-2a when it is pivoted with respect to element 11. The two members 14 and 15 cooperatively comprise an object-receiving means and, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, means for adjusting the resistance to actuation of said object-receiving means.

Element 11 includes a tab extension member 16 with a hole 17 near its distal end 16:: Element 12 is provided with a hole 18 located in opposition to the hole 17. These holes provide attachment means for lengths of kite string and comprise, together with the pivotal rivet connection 13, actuating means for the mechanism.

In use, the releasably locking mechanism of this invention connects two segments 19-1 and 19-2 of a kite string 19 as is illustrated by FIG. 1. One end of the string segment 19-1 is tied to the tab extension member 16 of element 11 through the hole 17, the other end being tied to a kite 20 in conventional fashion. One end of string segment 19-2 is tied to element 12 through the hole 18, the remaining end being intended for holding by a kite flyer 21. FIG. 1 shows the mechanism in its open position, having just released a toy 22 to drop to the ground. The toy comprises a model soldier 23 harnessed in a parachute 24. Attached to the top of the parachute is a ring 25 which provides the means by which the toy 22 is clasped by the cooperating members 14 and 15 of the object-receiving means.

In preparation for using the locking mechanism of this invention, the ring 25 of the toy 22 is inserted between and approximately parallel to the legs 14-1 and 14-2 as illustrated by FIG. 2.

Element 12 is then pivoted around rivet 13 with respect to element 11 to close the locking mechanism; i.e., to orient the object-receiving means in its closed or object-holding position (FIG. 3) Member 15 is thus thrust through ring 25 and its leading edge 15a is inserted into notches 14-1a and 14-2a. In this fashion, the toy 22 is releasably locked in place for carrying aloft by the kite string 19 when the kite 20 is flown. To release the toy 22 in the air, string segment 19-2 is jerked to actuate the locking mechanism into its open position (FIG. 2),

Resistance to actuation is adjusted by appropriately bending member 15 of element 12 as illustrated by FIG. 4 to bear against oppositely corresponding edges of the notches 14-1a and 14-2a. As illustrated, member 15 is shaped such that as it pivots around rivet 13, it first enters notch 14-2a and thereafter remains in contact with this notch as it approaches and ultimately enters the second notch 14-1a. The frictional resistance to withdrawal of member 15 from notch 14-10 sufficiently to allow the release of the ring 25 may be widely varied by adjusting the amount of pressure exerted by the member 15 against either or both notches. This adjustment is accomplished without difficulty by merely bending member 15 with finger pressure. Additional adjustment may be accomplished by increasing or decreasing the frictional resistance of the pivot connection 13. Increased resistance is obtained by tapping on the rivet 13 with a hammer. Decreased resistance may be obtained by loosening or lubricating this connection.

The embodiment illustrated by FIG. 5 is used in much the same fashion as the previously described embodiment, but is constructed of two approximately identical parts 26 and 27. Each part is generally L-shaped with a short element 28, 29 and a longer element 30, 31 extending at approximately right angles from attachment to one end of the shorter element. Each part has a hole 32, 33 at its unattached end and a hole 34, 35 at the corner formed by its two elements. The two parts are connectedas illustrated by a rivet 36 or other fastener passing through holes 33 and 34 to hold element 29 of part 27 snugly against part 26. Elements and 31 comprise the object-receiving means and are illustrated by solid lines in closed, object-holding position. In this position, element 31 is placed on the opposite side of part 26 from element 29, the resistance to actuation; i.e., uncrossing of elements 30 and 31, increasing as the elements are crossed to an increased extent. String segments 19-1 and 19-2 are tied through the holes 32 and as shown. When string segment 19-2 is jerked with sufficient force to cause elements 30 and 31 to uncross, the mechanism assumes its open, object-releasing position, shown in phantom lines.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment of the invention that, although actuated by jerking the kite string 19-2 in the same fashion as described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4 and FIG. 5, is constructed without any pivot connection. The mechanism comprises an elongate supporting plate 37 with three elements 38, 39, 40 depending approximately normally therefrom and parallel to each other. One of these elements 38 is an end plate with a hole 41 located as illustrated to accommodate a stiff, resilient wire 42. String segment 19-2 is tied through a hole 44 near the end of the support plate 37 opposite the end plate 38. The other depending elements 39, 40 comprise a pair of spaced, rigid legs with vertical edges located such that the wire 42 may be woven between them as illustrated (FIG. 7) to lock the ring 25 in place. The ring (and the object to which it is attached) is released by withdrawing the wire 42 through the hole 41 until its further withdrawal is checked by a stop plate 45 or similar means.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein the kite string 19 is continuous. In each instance, string segments 19-1 and 19-2 are permanently connected by a segment 19-3 so that when the object-receiving means of each mechanism is actuated to its open position, the kite and the mechanism ofthis invention may still be retrieved.

Referring to FIG. 8, the string segments are defined by a pair of string loops, spaced from each other by a distance exceeding the length of the locking mechanism 46. The mechanism comprises a spring-biased clip 47 with mutually opposing jaws 48 and 49 carried at opposite ends of a continuous strip of resilient plastic or metal. The biasing end 47a of the clip 47 is tied to the string segment 19-2 by loop 19-4. The clip 47 is inserted through ring 25 and the jaws 48, 49 are placed inside loop 19-5 and are forced closed by sliding a tension-adjusting cylinder 50 towards the jaws until the desired degree of resistance to spreading of the jaws (actuation) is developed.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 is connected to the string 19 in similar fashion but is actuated by a plurality of jerks on the string segment 19-2. This embodiment comprises a metallic ring with a blunt inside surface at one end 51a and a cutting edge 52 on the inside of the opposite end 51b of the ring. The carrying ring of the object to be carried may be locked on the metallic ring 51 at various locations as shown at 25, or by tying with string loop passed around the cutting edge 52 as shown at 25'. Resistance to actuation is adjusted by varying the toughness and number of turns of tying material 53.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is similar in operation to those of FIGS. 8 and 9, but comprises a female part 54 and a male part 55 which are separately attached to string loops 19-4 and 19-5, respectively, as illustrated. Actuation of the mechanism to release the ring 25 is accomplished by jerking on string segment 19-2 with sufficient force to disengage the two parts.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to details of the illustrated embodiments it is not intended to thereby limit the scope of the appended claims which recite those elements regarded as essential features of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A releasably locking mechanism for attaching objects to a kite string to be carried aloft by a kite and released at will while the kite is in flight, comprisingf object-receiving means with an object-holding position and an object-releasing position adapted to resist reorientation to its object-releasing position when it is placed in its object-holding position; and

actuating means connected to said object-receiving means,

including a first part for attachment to a length of string which is attached at its other end to a kite and a second part for attachment to a second length of string intended to be held by a kite flyer, said parts being cooperatively adapted to overcome the said resistance of the objectreceiving means to reorientation to its object-releasing position when the kite is airborne and the second-named length of string is jerked.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 comprising two elements, each of which includes means for attachment to a length of kite string and a locking member, said locking members being cooperatively adapted to comprise said objectreceiving means and said attachment means being adapted to comprise said actuating means.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said elements are pivotally connected near one end of each; and the string attachment means are located with respect to each other and the pivot connection such that tension in said string tends to pull said elements apart, thereby bringing said object-receiving means into its object-releasing position.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein one said element carries a member at its unattached end which member includes two parallel legs each of which is notched on the edge furthest removed from said pivot connection and the other said element carries a member at its unattached end which is shaped and adapted to enter said notches when said element is pivoted with respect to the first-named element into objectholding position.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the members carried by the unattached ends of the two elements are cooperatively adapted so that said elements may be placed in object-holding position with the second-named member inserted through a ring means attached to an object to be carried and with said parallel legs on opposite sides of said ring. 

1. A releasably locking mechanism for attaching objects to a kite string to be carried aloft by a kite and released at will while the kite is in flight, comprising; object-receiving means with an object-holding position and an object-releasing position adapted to resist reorientation to its object-releasing position when it is placed in its objectholding position; and actuating means connected to said object-receiving means, including a first part for attachment to a length of string which is attached at its other end to a kite and a second part for attachment to a second length of string intended to be held by a kite flyer, said parts being cooperatively adapted to overcome the said resistance of the object-receiving means to reorientation to its object-releasing position when the kite is airborne and the second-named length of string is jerked.
 2. A mechaNism according to claim 1 comprising two elements, each of which includes means for attachment to a length of kite string and a locking member, said locking members being cooperatively adapted to comprise said object-receiving means and said attachment means being adapted to comprise said actuating means.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said elements are pivotally connected near one end of each; and the string attachment means are located with respect to each other and the pivot connection such that tension in said string tends to pull said elements apart, thereby bringing said object-receiving means into its object-releasing position.
 4. A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein one said element carries a member at its unattached end which member includes two parallel legs each of which is notched on the edge furthest removed from said pivot connection and the other said element carries a member at its unattached end which is shaped and adapted to enter said notches when said element is pivoted with respect to the first-named element into object-holding position.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the members carried by the unattached ends of the two elements are cooperatively adapted so that said elements may be placed in object-holding position with the second-named member inserted through a ring means attached to an object to be carried and with said parallel legs on opposite sides of said ring. 